In early Summer 2017, a co-worker with kids asked me if we were going to see the total eclipse of the sun. The path of totality was in driving range for us. I deferred. He teased. He’d seen one, at least. He said we should see it.
The day of the eclipse, August 21st, was a school day for us. It would be a long drive. We didn’t have anywhere to go to see the eclipse. A few days passed.
I was slow to warm up to the event. Still, we searched and found a rancher willing to let us park on their land. Their range land was right smack dab in the center of the path of totality. We could get there and back. It didn’t cost an arm and a leg. The kids wanted to go, sure - a day off school. I could take the day off, but my partner was less thrilled. Their work schedule was less forgiving. We made our plan. Brothers-in-law and family wanted to go, and they joined us. It was becoming a big deal.
We left early. We arrived early. We waited. I wondered if the rancher, event planner, or whoever would show up to let us through the gate and onto the range land. They showed up. They let us in, and we hiked into the grassy hills and set up a camp.
Spoiler alert - some things defy description.
When you enter totality, the sun is a halo. All you see is the corona.
It’s dark, and you can see the stars.
It gets quiet, the birds stop singing and chirping, and bees stop flying around. It’s like the fastest nightfall ever.
All the way around, in every direction to the horizon, it looks like dawn and dusk.
It cools off quickly and noticeably.
It is like nothing else. Yes, you need to be there to get a sense of things.
It’s over all too quickly.
If you can manage it, get to the path of totality by eclipse time on April 8th. Do it.
Also, the traffic will probably be terrible, especially when leaving the path of totality.
It is an incredible moment—all sound and vision sucked up by a black hole. We went to Nashville and stayed with friends. It was worth it!
Also, this classic is a must read-read.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/annie-dillards-total-eclipse/536148/